By Keith Hickey

The Argentine scored for the third match in a row to give his team the spoils in a vital playoff six-pointer.

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Portland Timbers took another big step towards the MLS playoffs and saw their talisman bolster his MVP credentials in a 1-0 win over the Colorado Rapids at Jeld-Wen Field.

Portland took the lead thanks to Diego Valeri's 13th-minute goal. Colorado defender Drew Moor received a pass in the back, but was forced into a rash clearance by pressure from Maximiliano Urruti. Rodney Wallace put a powerful header to send it back the other way and into the path of Valeri, who beat Clint Irwin with a cool chip.

The win vaults Portland (11-5-13) over Colorado (12-9-9) and into third place in Major League Soccer's Western Conference, snapping the Rapids' two-game win streak and making the Timbers unbeaten in their last three.